I am proud to have earned the endorsement of Equality Arizona and as Secretary of State will do everything in my power to defend the rights of ALL Arizonans. Please like and share if you are ready for an Arizona Secretary of State who will fight for equality.

The two-track voting system is an expensive and probably illegally implemented system concocted by Tom Horne and Ken Bennett trying to save their political careers. It will create significant disruption in this years' elections with two classes of voters and two lines for each party. Only the Legislature can amend the election laws. But, rather than propose legislation, Horne/Bennett have usurped the Legislative authority and imposed an entirely new voting process.

When the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision upended Arizona's campaign finance laws, the Legislature amended those laws; not Horne/Bennett. To try to impose the two-track procedure through the new election manual just invites a legal challenge. Why do this the wrong way when they have had plenty of time to do it right?

As the horrific tales of misconduct at the Phoenix and other VA Hospitals capture the headlines, as they should, there is still more evidence of the VA failing to address a serious veteran health problem. Thousands of returning Gulf War vets complained of debilitating pain, memory loss, exhaustion, and gastrointestinal problems. Without evidence, VA blamed psychiatric stress, but veterans and Congress questioned this rush to judgment.

Goddard crusades for secretary of state to shine light on ‘dark money’

By Pete Aleshire

The normally low-key secretary of state’s office has suddenly moved to the center of the political debate as the result of a swirl of intensely controversial election reforms and rising concerns of about the impact of mysterious “dark money” on the political system.

As a veteran, I am both proud and humbled to receive the endorsement of Vote Vets, an organization dedicated to supporting members of our military and their families both home and abroad.

"Founded in 2006, and backed by over 360,000 supporters, the mission of VoteVets.org is to use public issue campaigns and direct outreach to lawmakers to ensure that troops abroad have what they need to complete their missions, and receive the care they deserve when they get home. VoteVets.org also recognizes veterans as a vital part of the fabric of our country and will work to protect veterans' interests in their day-to-day lives."

Ken Bennett asking the Clean Elections Commission for permission to use taxpayer dollarsto pay for television ads starring, you guessed it, Ken Bennett. The 2012 election exposed many troublesome obstacles Arizona voters faced at the polls: long lines, ballot confusion and nagging concerns over whether or not their ballot would be counted at all. Secretary Bennett has had over two years to educate Arizonans so we won’t have the same problems this election year. But, he didn't do it until running for Governor when appearing in “educational” ads might help him.

Taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize political ambition. These ads should run, but without Bennett.

Even members of Congress can't use taxpayer money to communicate with voters 90 days prior to an election.

WINSLOW, Ariz. - Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard visited Winslow April 26. Goddard is running for Arizona Secretary of State. He was available for questions Winslow residents may have had about state issues. The greeting area was at the La Posada Hotel in an informal guest seating area. Goddard's ballot petition was available for residents to sign and he had some promotional materials available.

The Observer asked him how he could help the Navajo and Hopi tribes as secretary of state. He said the secretary of state oversees state elections and has money available to promote easier access for Native Americans to register to vote and to vote. He said he would free up that unspent money and use some to provide Navajos and Hopis easier access to state voting facilities.

Six candidates took advantage on Monday of the first available filing day to submit their nominating petitions to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.

• Terry Goddard, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state and former Arizona attorney general, hauled in boxes of petitions on a handcart. Before heading up to the office that he hopes to run next year, Goddard told reporters he believes more voter education would help reduce the ballot pile-up that has delayed election returns in recent elections.

He also said the state needs to crack down on "dark money" — campaign contributions that can't be traced to the original donors because the money is hidden through a chain of non-profits that don't have to disclose their donors. Goddard suggested it might take a ballot measure to outlaw the practice, saying there was only a "weak" effort this year in the Legislature to take on the issue.

PHOENIX -- Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has filed nominating petitions to run as a Democrat in the race for secretary of state.

Goddard filed more than 9,000 qualifying signatures Monday and more than 3,300 $5 contributions that will qualify him for public funding under the state's clean elections law.

Goddard said he'll focus on eliminating anonymous "dark-money" spending in elections and promised not to endorse candidates. He criticized current Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett for working on Republican Mitt Romney's 2010 presidential campaign, saying the state's chief elections officer must be above partisan politics.

Goddard was attorney general for eight years, winning statewide races in 2002 and 2006. He also was mayor of Phoenix from 1984 to 1990. He's lost three governor's races.